The NFL began its journey toward becoming the high-scoring, pass-happy league it's known as today in 1978. And that was due, in large part, to Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount.

Known for his fierce bump-and-run coverage style, Blount was the most feared cornerback in the 1970s and a cornerstone on the Steelers' vaunted defense. So the NFL instituted a new rule in 1978, known as the Mel Blount rule, to limit defensive backs' contact with receivers to five yards off the line of scrimmage.

It hardly held back Blount, who continued to be effective up until his retirement in 1983 after 14 seasons. Blount, who played collegiately at Southern University and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, is 20th on our list of Louisiana's all-time top 51 athletes.

What made Blount unique was his physical play and size. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds he was bigger than most cornerbacks.

"He would manhandle the wide receivers, take them and throw them out of bounds," said former Steeler linebacker Andy Russell in an interview in 1989 when Blount was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. "Al Davis and Don Shula and people like that said it wasn't any fun to play the Steelers because you couldn't make a first down, so they changed the rules."

Blount, born in Toombs County, Ga., was taken in the third round of the 1970 draft, the same draft that included Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, selected first by Pittsburgh. He was a Pro Scouts All-American at Southern, playing both cornerback and safety.

In 1972, Blount became a starter and kept the job until his retirement. He was also durable, missing only two games of a 219 contests.